Hospital News
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- Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center Opens as a Center for Innovative, World-Class Cardiac Care and Patient Education
- 100th Heart Valve Replacement Implanted Without Open-Heart Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia
- NEJM Study Finds Drug-Eluting Stents More Effective Than Bare-Metal Stents in Heart Attack Patients
- Potential Lung Disease Biomarkers Yield Clues to COX-2 Inhibitor Side Effects
- Reducing the Damage of a Heart Attack
- Presence of Gum Disease May Help Dentists and Physicians Identify Those at Increased Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
- Gender Differences and Heart Disease
- JAMA Article Looks at Data-Sharing in Clinical Trials for Heart Disease
- Physician-Scientist Urges Improved Drug Regulation to Ensure Safety of Non-Heart Drugs
- Columbia Scientists Study Advantages of Using Web to Tailor Medical Information to Patients
- New Intravascular Radiation Procedures Reduce Renarrowing of Coronary Arteries
- A NYC First: Patient Participates in Stem Cell Clinical Trial to Repair Heart Damaged by Severe Coronary Artery Disease
- For High-Blood-Pressure Patients, Preventing or Reducing Enlarged Heart Decreases Risk of Heart Failure
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Physician-Scientists Present Findings at American Heart Association's Annual Conference
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Receives $23 Million From NHLBI to Lead Network Evaluating Novel Interventions in Cardiac Surgery
- Accuracy of Gene Expression Test for Heart Transplant Patients Confirmed by Independent Clinical Data
- NYC First: NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia Cardiologists Implant Novel Stroke-Prevention Device for Heart Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
- Keeping the Beat: NewYork-Presbyterian Offers Heart Patients New Combination Defibrillator/Pacemakers
- Diabetics Benefit Less from Anti-Hypertensive Treatment to Reduce Enlarged Heart
- Larger Waistline Is Linked to Increased Risk for Heart Disease in Women
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia Sets U.S. Record for Number of Heart Transplants in One Year
- Electrocardiogram Helps Predict Risk for Congestive Heart Failure in Hypertensive Patients
- Gene Test Detects Heart Transplant Rejection
- Computerized Electrocardiogram Rhythm Errors Common, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Study Finds
- Columbia Research Suggests Need to Rethink Causes of Heart Failure
- New Methodology Gives Weill Cornell Team Insights into Psychological Value of Cardiac Stress Testing
- Columbia University Medical Center Study Shows Stress Test Saves Lives of Patients With Chest Pain
- New Treatment for Enlarged Heart Effective, NewYork Weill Cornell Study Shows
- Reducing Enlarged Heart Muscle Cuts Patients' Cardiac Risk, Independent of Lowered Blood Pressure, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Researchers Report
- Columbia University Medical Center Instrumental in Clinical Research Leading to Medicare and Medicaid Approval To Cover Heart Pump
- Research Shows Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Lovastatin Reduces Risk of Heart Attack in Healthy Adults
- Columbia Presbyterian Cardiologist Is First in New York State To Receive Accreditation for Stress Echocardiography
- New Treatment May Prolong Life for Heart Transplant Patients
- Weill Cornell Researchers Identify a Likely Genetic Cause of Atherosclerosis
- Left Ventricular Assist Devices May Improve Heart Function and Lead to Search for New Therapies To Obviate Need for Transplants
- Low-Dose, Over-the-Counter Statins May Be Safe, Effective Aid in Preventing Heart Disease for Americans at Moderate Risk, Says Weill Cornell Dean
- Weill Cornell Physician-Scientists Win 2 Top Awards at American Heart Association Meeting
- Weill Cornell Scientists Reveal Action of a Histamine Receptor That May Lead to New Therapies for Heart Attacks
- First Robot-Assisted Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in the U.S. Performed at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
- Hollywood Comes Knocking: Dr. Mehmet Oz of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is Medical Expert for Denzel Washington Film John Q
- 9/11 Lifestyle Changes May Increase Cardiovascular Risk
- FDA Approves Implanted Heart Pumps That Lengthen and Improve Lives of Terminally Ill Heart Failure Patients
- Columbia University Medical Center Releases Preliminary Results of Robotic Open-Heart Surgery Study
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia Announces State-of-the-Art, Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center in Washington Heights
Health Library
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- Arrhythmias
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Biventricular Pacing
- Bradycardia, Heart Block and Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Diagnostic Tests
- Cardiac Diagnostic Tests
- Cardiovascular Diseases Online Resources
- Cardiovascular Glossary
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Echocardiogram (Echo)
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) / Stress Test / Holter Monitor
- Heart's Electrical System: Anatomy and Function
- Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
- Implantable Converter Defibrillators
- Sudden Cardiac Death
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope (Sudden Loss of Consciousness)
- Ventricular Tachycardia and Ventricular Fibrillation
- Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
Clinical Services
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- Advanced Diagnostics
- Alcohol Septal Ablation
- Angiograms
- Angioplasty and Stenting
- Artificial Heart Devices: LVAD
- Balloon Valvuloplasty
- Cardiac Electrophysiologic Studies
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Cardiology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Catheter Ablation for Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (Grafting)
- Echocardiograms
- Electrocardiograms (ECGs), Stress Tests, Holter Monitor and Event/Loop Recorders
- Heart Transplant Surgery
- Heart Valve Repair and Replacement
- Implantable Converter Defibrillators and Biventricular Pacing
- Intravascular / Intracoronary and Intracardiac Ultrasound
- Investigational Studies: Percutaneous Valve Replacement
- Nuclear Imaging For Heart Disease (PET scans, MUGA scans)
- Off-Pump Surgery
- Pacemakers
- Pediatric Heart Surgery
- Preventive Cardiology
- Robotic Heart Surgery
- Surgery for Adult Congenital Heart Disease
- Tilt Testing
- Transmyocardial Revascularization
- Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease
- Treatments for Heart Valve Disease
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Arrhythmia Control
An estimated two million Americans live with abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is a world leader in arrhythmia control, which combines the study, diagnosis, and treatment of heart rhythm disturbances in both adults and children. At NewYork-Presbyterian, we offer our patients a range of treatment options for ardiac arrhythmias, including medication, catheter ablative techniques, and surgical ablation techniques.
Atrial fibrillation is a form of arrhythmia in which the atria (the two small upper chambers of the heart) beat chaotically. While there are a number of variations of atrial fibrillation with different causes, they all involve irregularities in the transmission of electrical impulses through the heart. As a result of these irregularities, the heart often beats very rapidly, and is not able to pump blood effectively, which can cause blood to pool and form clots. This situation can lead to stroke, congestive heart failure, or cardiomyopathy.
Surgical Treatment Of Atrial Fibrillation
The Maze procedure is designed to cure atrial fibrillation by interrupting the electrical impulses that cause the abnormal rhythm. This open-heart operation involves the placement of incisions in both atria. When the incisions heal, scar tissue forms forming a "roadblock" that prevents the abnormal electrical impulses from passing through the heart. In so doing Maze corrects all the major problems associated with atrial fibrillation:
- it stops the atrial arrhythmia
- it restores normal rhythm between the atria and the ventricles
- it preserves the ability of the atria to contract on its own.
Recently, our surgeons have been involved in the development of modifications of the Maze procedure that make this operation less invasive. These “modified” Maze procedures utilize special energy sources, such as radiofrequency energy, to create scars in the atrial walls instead of incisions. This makes these procedures less traumatic to patients, and allows surgeons to use minimally invasive approaches. These minimally invasive modified Maze procedures are effective in all patients with atrial fibrillation, and are especially appropriate for patients who have had failed catheter ablations.
Last modified: 12-1-2009
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Hospital News
- Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center Opens as a Center for Innovative, World-Class Cardiac Care and Patient Education
- 100th Heart Valve Replacement Implanted Without Open-Heart Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia
- NEJM Study Finds Drug-Eluting Stents More Effective Than Bare-Metal Stents in Heart Attack Patients More
